Common Cold

Overview

The common cold is a mild infection of your nose, throat and sinuses (the air-filled spaces around your nose) caused by a virus. It is not the same as flu. A cold usually comes on slowly and makes you feel stuffed up, sniffly and tired for about a week. It feels unpleasant, but it is not dangerous for most healthy people and gets better on its own.

Very common. Adults usually get 2 to 4 colds a year, and young children can get 8 or more. Colds are the most frequent reason people take time off work or keep children home from school.

Everyone can catch a cold, at any age. Children under 6 get them most often, especially if they go to nursery or school, because they are around lots of other children and have not yet built up immunity. Colds spread easily between people living in the same home.

Symptoms

Common symptoms

• Runny or blocked nose
• Sneezing
• Sore or scratchy throat
• Cough, which may be worse at night
• Feeling tired and generally unwell
• Mild headache or body aches
• A slight temperature (a raised body temperature)
• Mild loss of smell or taste that usually comes back

Symptoms in children

• Being more tearful, clingy or sleepy than usual
• A higher temperature than adults tend to get
• Refusing feeds or eating less
• A cough that wakes them at night
• Sometimes vomiting after a coughing fit
• Earache, which may mean an ear infection has started
• Mild difficulty breathing through a blocked nose while feeding

Symptoms in older adults

• Symptoms may be milder, but the body may take longer to recover
• A cough that lasts longer or feels deeper in the chest
• More tiredness and poorer appetite
• Symptoms can more easily lead to a chest infection, so watch for worsening breathlessness
• Confusion or sudden drowsiness in an older person should be checked the same day

Causes

Main causes

• Cold viruses — there are more than 200 types, which is why you can catch colds again and again
• Rhinoviruses (a family of viruses) cause most colds
• The virus spreads through tiny droplets in the air when someone coughs or sneezes
• It also spreads by touch — from hands to your nose, eyes or mouth, or from shared objects like cups, towels and door handles

Risk factors

• Being in close contact with children, especially in nurseries and schools
• Crowded, indoor places where viruses pass easily between people
• Not washing your hands often
• Smoking, or living with someone who smokes, which irritates the airways
• A weakened immune system (the body's defence system) from illness or some medicines
• Colds are more common in autumn and winter, when people spend more time indoors together

When to see a doctor

See a doctor urgently if:

• You or your child is having difficulty breathing, or breathing is fast and hard work
• You cannot keep fluids down, or you have signs of dehydration
• A high temperature with a stiff neck, severe headache or a rash that does not fade when pressed
• A baby under 3 months has a temperature, or any baby seems very unwell
• Your symptoms suddenly get much worse, or you feel very unwell rather than just fed up

Book a routine appointment if:

• Symptoms are not improving after about 10 days
• You keep getting earache, sinus pain or a chesty cough
• You have a long-term condition such as asthma, COPD (a lung condition) or a weakened immune system
• You are pregnant, elderly, or caring for someone in those groups and are unsure what to do
• You have had several colds in a short space of time and want advice

Diagnosis

There is no test needed. A doctor or pharmacist usually recognises a cold from your symptoms and a short conversation about how it started and how long it has lasted. Colds look and behave quite differently from flu, which usually hits fast and hard.

Tests that may be done

• Usually none — the diagnosis is based on your symptoms
• If complications are suspected, a doctor may listen to your chest or look in your ears and throat
• Rarely, a swab or blood test may be suggested if another infection is being considered, for example in someone with a weakened immune system

What to expect at your appointment

A short appointment is typical. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms, check your temperature and breathing if needed, and give you advice on self-care. You may be told to come back if things change, or given a plan for what to watch for.

Treatment

There is no cure for a cold — your body's immune system clears the virus on its own, usually within a week or so. Treatment is about feeling more comfortable while you recover, and about spotting the rare cases where something more is going on.

Self-care at home

• Rest as much as your body asks for, and take time off work or school while you feel unwell
• Drink plenty of fluids — water, warm drinks, squash or soup all help
• Get enough sleep; a humid room or a steamy shower can ease a blocked nose
• Saline (salt water) nose drops or sprays are gentle and can help clear a stuffy nose, especially in children
• Simple pain or temperature relief from your pharmacist can ease aches and sore throats — always check the label and ask the pharmacist about the right option for you, your age and any other medicines you take
• Honey in warm water can soothe a cough in adults and children over 1 year old — never give honey to a baby under 1 because of the risk of a serious infection
• Keep small children upright and offer extra feeds if they are feeding poorly

Medical treatments

Antibiotics do not work on colds, because colds are caused by viruses and antibiotics only treat bacterial infections. Using them when they are not needed can make them less effective in future. Your pharmacist can advise on over-the-counter remedies that may ease a blocked nose, cough or sore throat — always tell them about other medicines you take, any long-term conditions, pregnancy, and the age of the person who needs it. Some remedies are not suitable for young children, so always check first. If a complication such as an ear or chest infection is suspected, your doctor will discuss whether any further treatment is needed.

When is surgery considered?

Surgery is not used to treat the common cold. Very rarely, an ear, nose or throat specialist may discuss surgical options for a separate, recurring problem such as repeated severe sinus infections — but this is not part of routine cold care.

Living with this condition

The main job is to be kind to yourself while your body fights the virus. Take things slowly, keep warm and comfortable, and lower your expectations for a few days. For children, extra cuddles, small frequent drinks and quiet activities help more than anything. Keep your hands clean and cover coughs and sneezes to avoid passing the cold on to others at home.

Lifestyle tips

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, or use hand gel when you are out
• Avoid sharing cups, towels, bottles and cutlery while you are unwell
• Cough or sneeze into a tissue, throw it away, then wash your hands
• Air out rooms regularly and avoid very smoky or stuffy places
• If you smoke, stopping is one of the best things you can do for your airways — ask your doctor or pharmacist for support
• Rest and go back to normal activity gradually — there is no need to rush

Diet and exercise

There is no special diet that cures a cold, but eating normally where you can and drinking regularly helps your body cope. Warm, easy-to-eat foods like soup or toast are absolutely fine if your appetite is low. Avoid intense exercise while you feel unwell; gentle walking and fresh air are fine when you feel up to it. Wait until you feel back to normal before returning to hard training.

Mental health and emotional wellbeing

Being unwell, even briefly, can make you feel low, frustrated or worn out — especially if you are missing work, caring for a poorly child, or stuck at home. That is normal and usually lifts as you recover. If low mood or worry is lasting longer, or you are having thoughts of harming yourself, please reach out for support straight away. Contact your local emergency number or a crisis line in your country if you feel unsafe, and speak to your doctor or a mental health professional — you deserve help and you are not alone.

Prevention

You cannot completely avoid colds, because there are so many different viruses — but you can lower your chances and reduce spreading them. Hand washing is the single most useful habit. Keeping rooms aired, avoiding close contact with someone who is unwell where possible, and not sharing cups or towels all help.

Vaccines

There is no vaccine for the common cold, because so many different viruses cause it. The flu vaccine does not prevent colds, but it does protect against flu, which can be more serious and sometimes looks similar at first. Ask your doctor or pharmacist whether a flu vaccine is recommended for you.

Screening programmes

There is no screening test for the common cold. Colds are diagnosed from symptoms, and routine testing is not needed.

Complications

If left untreated

• Ear infection, which is more common in children and can cause earache and a temperature
• Sinus infection, causing facial pain, a blocked nose and headache that lasts longer than a normal cold
• Chest infection or bronchitis, especially in older adults, smokers and people with lung conditions
• Worsening of asthma or COPD, so keep your usual inhalers or medicines nearby and follow your action plan
• Dehydration, particularly in babies, young children and frail older people who drink less when unwell
• Rarely, a more serious infection spreading from the nose or throat — this is why worsening symptoms over several days should be checked

Long-term outlook

For most people the outlook is very good. Symptoms usually peak in the first two or three days and then ease, and you should feel close to normal within a week to 10 days. A cough often hangs around for a couple of weeks afterwards and slowly fades. Colds are a normal part of life, and getting one now and then is not a sign that something is wrong with you.

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